Coupler-release rigging



s. H/CAMPBELL COUPLER RELEASE RIGGING Sept 16 Filed June 22. 1923 INVENTOR S. H.CAMPBELL ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 16, 1924.

omrao srras STERLING H. CAMPBELL, or sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

' COUPLER-RELEASE RIGGING.

Application filed me 22,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, STERLING H. CAMP- BELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America, have invented a certain new and useful Coupler- Release Rigging, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exactdescription as will enable anyone skilled in the art to which it'appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification. I

My invention relates to a coupler release rigging and more particularly to improvements in that form of release rigging shown and described in Patent No. 1,387,685, granted to me August 16, 1921, and comprising a connector formed of two parts 'hinged or pivoted together to move in a vertical longitudinal plane to compensate for. the longitudinal movement of the coupler. v

The object of the present invention is to so construct the device that the lower part of the connector will be supported at both ends by the upper part thus distributing the lifting power at both sides of the line connecting the locking pin and operating arm.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate some forms of release rigging made in accordance with my invention, Figure 1 is a top plan view; Figure 2 is a side elevation, the operating arm being shown in lowered position in dotted lines; Figure 3 is a front view; Figures 4 and 5 are front and side views respectively, showing a slight modification; Figure 6 is a front view showing a further modification, and Figures 7 and 8 are front and side views respectively, showing a still further modification. 4

.In the drawings 10 indicates the end of a railway car to which the usual rock shaft 11 is secured by brackets 12. One end of the shaft 11 is provided with a handle 13 and the other with an operating arm 14 in which is formed a horizontal eye 15. The coupler head 16 is provided with a locking pin 17, in which is formed an eye 18. All of the above mentioned parts are old and well known and form no part of my invention except in-combination with the connector hereinafter described.

As in my prior patent, above referred to, the connector comprises two parts pivoted together, one engaging with the eye in the operating arm, and the other with 1923. Serial No. 646,994.

rthe locking-pin eye. In the present construction, however, insteadof pivoting only one end of the upper part of the connector to one end of the lower part, I pivot both 9 ends of the upper part to the corresponding ends of the lowerpart. In thismanner I not onlymin'imize the tendency to'lateral pull when the draw head is moved sidewise, but also produce'a much stronger link or connector 1n proportion to the amountp of metal used. 1

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and-8, theupper part of the connector consists of a U- shaped member 20 adapted to be threaded through the eye 15. One endof the member20 is provided with a pivot opening 21 andthe other is'bent outwardly to 'form' a trunnion '22. This trunnion 22 is threaded to receive a nut 23 and is either split so that it may be spread, as shown'in Figure 3, or other means provided for locking the nut '23 in position. The lower. part of the.

connector consists of an elongated loop 24 adapted to be threaded through the eye 18.

One end of the loop 24'is first :bent in wardly as indlcated at 25, and then bent outwardly to form a trunnion 26 to engage the pivot opening 21. The other end of the loop 24 is provided with a pivotopening 27 to receive the trunnion 22 on the member 20. y

In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown a slight modification in which the member 20 is replaced by a member 20 which differs from U-shaped. This member 20 is pivoted to a member 24*, like that shown in Figures 4 and 5.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown a still further modification in which the member 20 provided with hooks-28 which are open,

as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, before the parts are assembled but are bent into closed position, as shown in full lines, after the parts are assembled. In this construction the lower part of the connector consists of an elongated loop 24 both ends of which are bent inwardly and provided with eyes 29 vfor engagingwith.the'hooks 28. It is tobe noted that the eyesf29ishould3:

actuating: arm atherefor, land; a connector extending bGtWEBGHxSfliCl.pln" and arm and com z prisingtwo parts apivoted: together to move in:;:-a vertical" longitlidinalluplane, the "lower part of said connector being supported at both'; ends":at-; :.a point" between-"the pin and arm; a

2. In. a device of the class described, the

combination with a coupler lock-pinyof a mounted operating armtherefom and a pair of- .sti-rrups hingedly' connected a t-their bi-- furca'ted ends? at a point between "the :pin

and armi-tomove in: a vertical longitudinal:

planer for manipulating the": coupler lock. 3. *Inva device of theclass=described-; the

comprising-two parts, each provided at one end with a pivot opening and at the other end with a trunnion, said parts being pivvotedtogether:by said openings and trunby: Letters Patent1of-theUnited; States is 1' 1. :In a device of-the .classw:described thecombinationhtvith a coupler 'ilOC-lpi11,"0f an.

5. In a device of the-class described, the

uco-mbinaation.with-a coupler lockpin, of an actuating armntherefor; and: a connector comprising; two: parts-,fieach; provided at one end with a PiVOtfQPGlllllg: and-at the other endxuwrth: a --:trunn1on",ii-sa1d-trunn1on and opening:cooperatingto pivot said parts together, and-retaining: means-engaging one a of said Ctr'unnionsix 6. In .a device of the class described, the combination'with a coupler lock-pin, of an actuating arm therefor'y and a connector "comprising two parts, each. provided at one endw'ith a pivot opening anduat the other :endwwith a trunnion, "one: of said trunnions being threaded, and a nutengaging said threaded" trunnion to holdw said: parts in pivotalrelation. combination with a coupler lock-pin; E of' an' actuating arm-therefor, and a connector: comprisingtwo parts, one'part of said connector engaging with" the'iactuatingw arm "and I In "testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed myi-seal. r

STERLING H. CAMPBELL. 

